Blood Legacies: Book One of ‘The Evolution of Peri Delant’ Series

By K. Mareet

Peregrine Evans life goes from bliss to shit when the man she marries gives her to his Gentlemens Club to gain membership. Too bad its run by arseholes and deviates with a penchant for debauchery and torture. She escapes only to be captured by more magic-wielding madmen on a bloody quest. Between getting knocked down, knocked up, kidnapped (again), rescued and ranted at by dragons, lifes a laugh a frigging minute. Evanss dont give up or give in so she can either sit on her arse and bitch about it or get up and go kick some.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Sep 9, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499018097

K. Mareet

K. Mareet has lived in over thirty different locations between more civilised suburbia and outback Australia. Her love of reading pretty much everything and writing poetry, short stories, and long letters have been constant. Her foray into writing novels has become an unequivocal pleasure and an addictive, consuming passion. She also enjoys crafts, art, music, and history, and she is fascinated with the beauty and complexity of the universe. She believes that just because the existence of supernatural beings and magic hasn’t been proven, it doesn’t mean they don’t exist. She has a husband who works away and kids who have their own goals to strive for, and chronic insomnia is a bonus that allows her to read and write all hours of the day or night. She writes very fast and types very slowly but has been learning how to train a dragon to obey her every command and pick up the slack. While her family and friends don’t always like or understand the darker or adventurous aspects of what pours from her imagination or her need to constantly scribble, they are always supportive and encouraging and maybe a little amazed at the growing pile of manuscripts. She’s a little amazed herself and a tad daunted as well at the task of transferring them to the computer, but while there are books to read and her own impatient characters demanding to get out of her head, she’ll continue indulging in the passion and pleasure of writing about their struggles and triumphs. Her stories tend to be gritty and dark and not for the easily offended or fainthearted, but whatever the genre, the underlying theme is always about love, striving to overcome adversity, being better and true to yourself, and being better and true to yourself, and being accepted for who you are is worth living and even dying for.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

K arras impatiently swiped the riotous curls away from her face as she paced and ranted as much as she dared.

‘It’s not fair. Why do we have to look after the girl? She might as well be the village idiot for all she knows about anything. She’s that naïve and stupid she believes that piece of shit actually loves her …’

Her father’s finger raised a bare quarter of an inch from the arm of the throne on the dais, and she abruptly changed tack from petulant to pleading.

‘If it’s so necessary she’s protected from Kalagras knowing how powerful she could be, why even let them use her blood to worship him?’ She grimaced and her tone softened.

‘Why put her through this?’

He sighed and repeated what had already been said innumerable times already.

‘A worthy tool must be prepared in fire and under the hammer to achieve the strength and edge we require. A sword that will not break the first time it is drawn to defend. Nor the next or the next. I have spent millennia aligning the materials needed to make this sword. Now is the time to forge it and hone the blade. If she proves strong enough to endure, the effort will not have been wasted.’ His tone hardened. ‘You know we do not have the time to begin again if she fails, so you and your brother will do as you are bid and that is the end of the matter.’

Karras and her brother Kieras bowed their heads in acknowledgement, and seconds later they were gone.

The Father of the Gods’ fingers curled into fists as he murmured into the stillness of the empty room,

‘And so it begins.’

CHAPTER 1

B lood is a bitch to clean up.

Every swipe just seems to smear it more, and don’t get me started on rugs. Tiles are bad enough. Ever tried to get it out of grout?

The bastard had it coming anyway, and you know what the ironic thing is? I would have died for him once upon a time. Ended up dying himself trying to kill me, so no real regrets. Except for the bloody clean-up. I hate scrubbing to start with, but at least he can’t complain about what a crappy job I did this time. There is that.

What a day. More like four frigging years of hell. All started out well enough; like minds, rosy dreams, and the willingness to work together for a wonderful future together. Same old, same old, you know. The change was gradual, as it is, so you’re not quite sure really when it all went to shit, but I can for sure say him joining his ‘Gentlemen’s Club’ was a bloody big nail in the coffin. His as it turned out. Far as I can tell no real gentlemen belong to it. Only egoists, arseholes, and animals dispensing their twisted brand of wisdom on how to improve their lives and keep the minions in line. He worked up to the torture from the stern frowns of disapproval, dress and behaviour codes, regular bouts of humiliation, penury and discipline (beating me into submission or unconsciousness … whichever came first).

When I look back I call myself all kinds of idiot. Why didn’t I just do a runner sooner and take my chances? Oh well, you know what they say about hindsight. By the time I was ready to go I found out I was a prisoner in truth and it was too late.

Anyway, now I’m out of here with what I can carry and whatever money I can scrounge as I’ve none of my own. For my own good, don’t you know? He always carried around a lot of flash so I’m not entirely destitute. No doubt when he doesn’t turn up for the monthly meeting in eight days the Club will be around and I intend to be long gone and far, far away.

It’s dark enough and late enough to evade the neighbours’ notice so I guess this is it. Freedom!

I hacked my long hair off the first day out. Not much style to it but a lot easier to look after and so light and cool. I like it so I’m keeping it short from now on and to hell with whatever anyone else thinks of it. My wardrobe is limited and at a pinch and distance I can pass as a man. I’m tall for a woman and not overly endowed like the rest of the females in my family, so that helps too. Guess I should be grateful all that scrubbing kept me fit. Nuh, not grateful at all and I can’t describe how good it is to miss out on the blood-letting. They’ll have to use some other poor bastard to make up the quota for the Club’s blood magic rituals for wealth, health, and arseholedness. This one has left and is never going back.

It’s been three weeks of keeping a low profile and eating lean. I headed out into the countryside with the intention of getting lost and did a damn good job of it too. I haven’t a clue where I am but with the weather fine that’s not a problem. Going to have to find some sort of civilisation again soon to get some more food and a bed of some kind would be nice too but not if I have to pay for it.

Haven’t seen or heard of anyone looking for me so they either don’t know he’s dead or they are keeping it quiet. Probably don’t want it to get around one of the slaves rebelled and escaped. I didn’t take anything obvious—just three changes of Beris’s old clothes and a good coat that haven’t fit him for quite sometime from the trunk in the attic, plus a blanket, hatchet, sharp knife, dish, cup, cutlery, two pots with lids, salt, tea, sugar, bread, dried fruit and nuts, oatmeal, oil, coil of thin, strong rope, small lantern and strikes. As I said, what I could carry in my old rucksack. It gets heavy by the end of the day but I am glad for it all.

One good thing about being out in the countryside has been by paying attention and being careful, I usually hear, see, or smell anyone before they see me. It’s worked out well enough so far, and even with hiding until it’s clear again or going around, I’m still putting a good number of miles between me and that hell every day.

My one venture into a town market hadn’t raised any eyebrows that I saw but once I bought what I needed I got out quick enough without any problems. Haven’t had to use the long staff I cut for myself for anything besides leaning on, so that’s a good thing. Other than trying to bash the shit out of someone with it I wouldn’t know how to defend myself, though if I really needed to I’d give it a good go. Oh, and run like hell … I can do that.

Time to find somewhere to camp, though with the full moon tonight I could keep walking further but don’t want to risk tripping and hurting myself. Plus, in daylight it’s easier to find rocks or dig a hole to set my fire in to cook a quick pot of—YUM!—gruel, with fruit and nuts. Need to find some water to refill my flasks and wash some grime off too. What looks like a small stream through a lightly treed valley ahead could be promising. It’d be nice to find some fresh fruit but probably too early in the season yet. At least the water shouldn’t be too cold to bathe in. Gods, what I wouldn’t do for a bathtub and hot water.

Ahhhh. Bathed, fed, and put to bed. The ground even feels softer tonight or I’m just getting used to it. The steady gurgle of water swirling over half-submerged rocks wending its way to … wherever … has me feeling content and nodding off.

CHAPTER 2

‘F uck! Now the insides of me bloody boots is wet! Next time get your own bloody water. Fuck me! Fuck, fuck, fuck!’

Gods! Talk about give me a bloody heart attack! I barely remembered to keep my own mouth shut in panic and to stay still. The cursing sounded closer due to the clear night, but I could see now by squinting carefully from under the edge of my blanket my late-night visitors were about fifty yards away. Good thing I’d decided to move back from the clearer banks of the stream to bed down among some scrubby brambles.

‘Quit your bloody whining, Bast, and don’t spill all the bloody water or you’ll be going back again. Asera needs her tea, and I need a bloody drink and some sleep. I’ll start the fire and get the boys to bring the horses down. Do you think you could keep it down a bit? We are trying to sneak quietly through this bloody country? Move it.’

Shit. Shit. Shit. How many were there, and how long did they plan on camping out on my doorstep? I’m pretty sure unless they’re really looking they wouldn’t spot my little hideout. Thank the Gods I’d let the fire burn out early and covered the coals. Keeping low to the ground I strained to hear the goings-on hoping they’d give me a clue when they would be leaving. Sneaking, huh? So probably wouldn’t want any witnesses. Great. Just when I was sure things were looking up.

Through the waning moonlight I could see eight horses being led down to the water by three half-grown boys. They looked as weary as the animals with their drooping shoulders and shuffles. Not too weary to stop constantly darting looks around them though. The complaining Bast stomped his way back towards the copse of trees that had felt too open for me to where I could see the beginnings of a fire flickering and hear the murmur of several voices, though none distinct enough to get a proper count. I knew there had to be at least six. The two men and the woman who needed tea and the boys. Eight horses though … Guess I’d just have to huddle here and wait them out. Bloody, bloody hell!

After several hours of quiet had descended on the camp and my bladder telling me it wouldn’t wait much longer, I carefully inched backwards far enough away from my bed to squat. Either the relief had deafened me for the moment or he moved like a ghost, but the first I knew of the presence behind me was his iron grip clamped down around the back of my neck and the low growl telling me to stand up nice and easy.

How bloody easy did he think it was squatting bare-arsed and nothing nice about knowing some pervert had sneaked up and had to have watched me pee? With my hands full pulling my pants up, my throat tight with fear, and my heart beating fit to break itself, I stood stooped in my bramble cover. Not much cover now! Manoeuvred backwards by the increased pressure around my neck I was thinking where was a good knife when you need one? On the bloody ground where I’d laid it to undo my drawers. Shit!

‘Don’t even think of going for your knife, little bird. I could snap your neck before you blinked.’

Great, he’s a bloody mind reader now.

‘Actually I am, so come easy and we won’t have a problem, will we?’

Shit, shit, shit! My tongue was still frozen and stuck to the roof of my mouth, but my mind was beginning to work flat out, even if it was only one word at this stage. Shit! Shit! Shit!

‘Such a varied vocabulary you have there, little bird. Stand up and put your hands behind your back. Nice and slowly.’

With a ‘Fuck you, arsehole!’ I burst into a panicked frenzy trying to hit him and break free only to find myself seconds later slammed face down in the dirt with his pointy bloody knee jammed into the middle of my back.

‘Not the easy way then. They never listen to reason, do they? Got to do it the hard way every time.’

His hands busy while he muttered, he soon had my flailing limbs trussed and with the final indignity of a lump of cloth (probably with his snot on it) shoved in my mouth. With barely a grunt he picked me up and slung my not inconsiderable weight and length over his brawny and bony shoulder. Then the bastard put one of his hands on my arse and rubbed it!

‘Regarding your generous offer, sweetheart, not today and not tomorrow but after that, we’ll see, shall we?’

And then smacked hard on the previously rubbed spot.

Now I was pissed … and scared and angry and scared and struggling futilely to get off while he chuckled and strode towards the still dark camp. With minimum care to bruises he dropped me on my still-smarting rear end outside a small tent with a grunt. Hope the bastard strained something.

‘What you got there, Vanik? Fuck me, a woman now, is it? Trust you to find one in the middle of bloody nowhere. Where’s the rest of them? Dead, tied, or gone? Was it them bastards? Fuck me, knew we should’na stopped here. Fuck, knew water in me boots was a bad omen. Fuck, fuck, fuck!’

‘Shut the hell up, Bast, and wake Asera if you haven’t already with your bloody endless complaining.’

This voice growled from behind me giving my pounding heart another jolt. I turned my head to see a grey-topped grizzled face with a grim expression looming an arm’s length away. Shit! Didn’t these people make any noise when they moved? Was he going to smack my arse too, though he looked like he could smack all of me around and not break a sweat? A muted chuckle from the direction of the now relit fire brought my attention back to the pervert. The bastard was smirking at me!

‘Only me, little bird, only me.’

The not-so-silent Bast stomped to stand over me and scowled.

‘What’s with the ‘little bird’ crap, Vanik, she’s as fucking big as a cow? And what’s with this ‘only me’ bullshit? Only you fucking what? What’s she doing here … That’s what I’d like to know?’

‘All in good time, dear Bast. Some tea if you please.’

Great. Another bloody sneaky person. The woman, Asera, unless there were more hiding in the little tent. Not a bloody strand of her long golden hair out of place or a bloody wrinkle in her clothes, looking for all she hadn’t slept in them. Fuck me! Shit, now the bloody Bast has got me saying it! And I’ve got bigger problems than checking out her bloody wardrobe … nice clothes though. Shit! What the hell is going on, and how long do I have to live? From the fucking … shit! … Bloody Bast … frying pan into the bloody fire. So much for bloody freedom. Shit! Shit, shit, shit, shit.

‘Favourite word, little bird? We’ll have to teach you some new ones to sing.’

‘Enough, Vanik. She’s afraid and fleeing her own demons I think rather than aiding ours. Peace, Sister, you must remain secured for the moment for your own safety, and ours of course. You must assure me you won’t start screaming if we remove the gag. We will talk, and I’m afraid you must also travel with us so you do not reveal our passing. Madden, if you will. No, Vanik, keep your place for her peace of mind and cease your teasing.’

Peace of bloody mind! What’s bloody peaceful about being trussed and tossed about, fondled and spanked by the big, smug pervert, and threatened oh-so-bloody reasonably by the bloody immaculate princess here? Peace of mind. I’d like to give them a piece of my mind and a bloody shallow grave just to top it off!

‘Now, now, little bird. We’re being very reasonable here. A remarkable offer too. We could just cut your slender throat and put you in a shallow grave, couldn’t we now?’

My grunts of ire and thrashing had the small stones under me grinding boulder-size craters in my body. All discomfort promptly flew to the back of the queue when a massive paw pressed down on my neck from the side. Shit, I had forgotten about him!

‘Steady, lass. Vanik is merely baiting you. You will be coming with us gagged and bound if need be, but coming anyway. Best for you and best for us. Gods, I need a drink! If I pull the gag will you be quiet or do I put it back? Your choice. Think hard, lass. Think fast. I like peace and bloody quiet however I have to get it. Not much around these days, don’t I know it, but I will have what I can. Now, no squawking and mind your tongue.’

With a sharp jerk he ripped the cloth from my mouth nearly taking some teeth with it and after impassively watching me cough and gasp for some moments, directed the sullen Bast to get me water and prepare the horses to move.

‘Get the water, Bast. Get the bloody water, Bast. Fuck me. Am I a bloody water boy?’

The grumbling ox grabbed the back of my neck to hold me. What is it with my bloody neck with this lot? A quick look showed the smug jerk’s eyes still glinting at me and the princess now seated on a small stool watching as serenely as if she was at a bloody tea party. It was either open my mouth and swallow or have the whole cup of water poured up my nose and down my chin. I swallowed and swallowed and coughed and bloody choked when the dumb ox kept pouring. Trying to bloody drown me after all their pretty words of peace! Asera finally deigned to notice and waved a languid hand.

‘Enough, Bast. Go fill the canteens please.’

‘More fucking water? I’m a fucking water boy.’

The shithead squatting on the other side of the fire and still watching me chuckled. ‘You’re an essential part of our team, Bast. Where would we be without you? A truly essential part.’

‘Fuck you, Vanik.’

‘Not in your wildest dreams, Bast, and definitely not mine. I prefer less hirsute companions with a more delicate turn of phrase.’

The bastard had his beady eyes on me. Shit!

‘Enough, Vanik, you’ve had your fun.’

Sliding around so I could keep my eyes on the pervert and see Asera I straightened my complaining back. I wouldn’t bloody grovel. Others had tried to kill me, and I wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of seeing how scared I was. Here I was, assured I wasn’t going to die right now (maybe later), so I’d bide my time to escape. The resigned sigh from one and the smirk from the other suggested they both knew my plan. Tough. Clasping her long slender fingers and perfectly buffed nails before her, Asera leaned towards me with a sincere look on her pretty little face. Perfectly arched golden eyebrows over large, light blue eyes. Long, dark perfectly curled (of course) lashes, straight, slightly long (good!) nose, and perfectly pink pouty lips. Even in firelight she looked beautiful and I no doubt looked like I’d been dragged backwards through scrub and rolled in the dirt—which I bloody had! I spared a glare for the openly smiling sicko squatting to my right. Arsehole!

The perfect little bloody princess pursed her lips primly and asked, ‘What is your name, Sister, and what is your business out here where we are?’

‘My name is none ya, you’re not my bloody sister, and you bloody well came to where I was, not the other way round. So why don’t you just keep going and we’ll both forget we ever saw each other.’

‘I’m sorry, Nunya, but I’m afraid …’

Her response was loudly interrupted by the blast of laughter from the shithead. At her irritated glance he barely managed to get himself under control enough to splutter coherently.

‘Her name is not Nunya. She meant none of your business with a few colourful words thrown in, and she had been here before us. Her fire was quite cold, and she really, really doesn’t want to come anywhere with us. Very intriguing, little bird. I can see we are going to have so many interesting conversations together.’

‘In your dreams, arsehole,’ I managed to spit to be answered by another laugh and ‘Oh definitely, little bird’. With an abrupt change of face and glacial eyes he crooned, ‘You can count on it.’ Gods He gives me bloody chills. A fucking psycho.

‘Well, whatever your name is, we have no choice but to bring you with us now. I have a feeling that is essential for all of us. However, you will be allowed no liberties unless you prove you will not hinder or harm our quest.’

Great! A bloody quest! Here I am minding my own fucking business trying to get as far away from everyone and I get picked up by some bloody lunatics on a bloody quest! I tuned back in to catch her instructing Vanik to put me on one of the pack horses when we moved out. No doubt the evil bastard would try to cop another feel and by the sneaky little smirk he gave … promised he would.

Many hours later my arse cheek still throbbed from where Vanik had pinched me though the rest of me had gone past pain to numbness from being tied to this bloody razorback mule. The gag was back too. Bast had done that when I’d tried to bite him when he jammed my retrieved hat on my head. Not my fault. The stupid horse stepped on his bloody foot. Some prick grabs my breast … I’m gonna struggle and the stupid horse didn’t like it any better. Hope it broke some bones.

I’d given up paying attention to where we went. Not as if I’d recognise it anyway and concentrated on staying upright. No doubt if I fell they’d just tie me across the bloody animal.

The change of gait brought my head up to look around me. Gone were the rolling downs, to more hills and trees and mountains in the far distance. Guess I hadn’t noticed a lot. After a low conversation at the front, Vanik spurred his horse to a canter towards some denser trees in the distance. A gloomy looking place with its dark, looming foliage. I’d heard about creepy places like that even in my once civilized part of the world and certainly never wanted to ever go there. Didn’t want to now but no one was going to ask my opinion. Not that they’d take it anyway. Lunatics, the lot of them. On a bloody quest and me along for the ride.

A good hour later Vanik returned, talked to Asera, and off he went again. After putting me on the horse he had ignored me, riding out the front and away to scout no doubt. Madden rode with Asera, and the ox brought up the rear boring holes in my back with his beady little eyes. The youths rode between us with me on a leading rein to the one riding alone. I hadn’t gotten any popularity points by forcing ‘Snivel’ and ‘Sulk’ to double up. ‘Sook’ wasn’t happy about leading me around and having my rescued rucksack behind him either. It ‘poked in his back’. Big deal. This bloody horse’s spine was cutting me in half jolt by bloody jolt. Did they take the saddle off just for me? Everyone else got one. That’s me … special.

Finally inside the edge of the gloomy forest we halted, and I got to enjoy the mule longer while a fire was made and tea going.

Madden’s grim expression coming towards me didn’t bode well. Without a word and several grunts he untied the ropes from the horse and dragged me off its back. My knees buckled and sure enough … face down in the bloody dirt again. Without a frigging care he grabbed the back of my shirt and dragged me towards the others sitting around the fire passing out food, where he just let go and went to get his share. I was working up to complaining when the feeling started coming back to my rear end. Holy Shit! Like someone using razors and needles on me. How long I lost it for I don’t know. Through my groans and teared vision I noticed Vanik watching me. The prick was probably enjoying the show. Probably gave him a hard-on. Bastard. The trio of shitheads were definitely amused. Let me up and I’d kick their scrawny arses.

Asera ignored me; the ox continued glaring, while Madden just stared into the distance.

Finally, Asera looked over as if I’d just bloody magically appeared and wrinkled her pretty princessy forehead with a frown.

‘You should walk around to ease the cramps, you know.’

Gods, what a fucking genius!

‘I’ll help her ease them out. Have your tea and get what rest you can, Asera. We move again in an hour.’

Great, Vanik wants to help me. More like wallow in my agony. After a few false starts and much body contact my shaking legs held and my arse down to only screaming with every step, he led me around the camp telling me it was ‘good for me’. Hah! Eventually I could bear it, my body a throb rather than shrieking pain. He led me to the fire, removed the gag, and handed me some grainy flat bread, jerky … Gods, how long since I’d had meat … and a cup of water.

‘Keep walking while you eat but don’t get any ideas, little bird, I’ll be watching.’

Fuck you too!

‘Oh yes, I really do think so. I really do.’

I continued to walk slowly round, watching the boys rub down the horses as best they could in full tack with the water boy limping around them giving directions. He caught my smirk and glared harder. Now I just wanted to curl up and sleep for a day or two but fat chance of that happening. It must have been written on my face because Madden growled, ‘Lying down now will only make it harder to get up again. Do some stretches and bends. It will get better as we go.’

Like he was sawn in half! At least he wasn’t enjoying it like some I could mention. I hadn’t been this sore since the last time I was raped. Vanik’s head snapped up and he stared at me. Read this, arsehole. Drop fucking dead!

Ignoring them all as best I could, I hated to admit the movements helped. Bast staring at my arse every time I bent over had me hoping the horse would step on his other foot and maybe his fat head for good measure. Madden continued gazing out towards the open country we’d come across ignoring us all. Vanik reclined against a tree watching me from under half-lidded eyes. His bland expression not detracting from his possibly handsome—(if he wasn’t such a sick bastard)—face, dark of midnight-black hair—like his soul, arched brows—like a demon, a nose sharp enough to cut glass, full lips—to suck the marrow from your bones, long hands and feet to match the rest of him. Hah! Probably had a little dick!

The twitch of his lips said the shit was still perving in my head. Pox on him. Enough of the show. I found a tree on the opposite side of the camp as far away from anyone but still in plain sight and sat down with a barely suppressed groan when my knees nearly dumped me. I sipped some more water, closed my eyes, and tried not to think at all.

‘Get up, we’re leaving. You have five minutes to relieve yourself over there. Don’t make me come get you. Five minutes starts now!’

With that Madden turned and continued his orders to the others. I must have dozed, but I was awake now and aware I did need to go. Pretty bloody sure he wasn’t joking I made it to my feet and the aforementioned bushes and back in good time. Great, now the bloody horse again. How could I have forgotten that? My nether regions certainly hadn’t—spasming in anticipation of the torture to come. It wasn’t until I was heaved back onto the monster that I realised its back had been padded out with a blanket. Small mercies, but I’d still be bloody bow-legged and crippled in the end. No one had replaced the gag though the ropes had returned just as tight. More aware after the rest, I looked around as we headed higher into the hills. Hope they didn’t expect to climb the bloody mountains in the distance too.

Yep! The lunatics planned to climb the mountains. After innumerable days of ride, sleep, ride, sleep, my body didn’t care anymore where we went. I rode, walked, stretched, ate, drank, and used the bushes on command. The further we went, the grimmer they got, and I couldn’t have cared less. I lived to sleep every night—my only escape from the pain. Not that I rested well or enough with Vanik’s dark hooded eyes haunting my dreams and nightmares. Always bloody watching. Eventually I was even too tired to dream, and it seemed I’d just close my eyes and someone, usually Madden, would use their boot to nudge me awake again to start all over.

Today it seemed was to be different. Yay. The quiet discussion had taken a turn for the louder regarding when, how, and which mountain we were going to climb. I hoped they argued all day so I could go back to sleep—after I ate my paltry rations like a good girl. Learnt that the hard way. My one refusal to eat had me given nothing for two days other than a sip of water at stops and a half cup of the dregs of the tea in the mornings.

Scrambling over to retrieve a sweet tea and bowl of—you guessed it—gruel, I retreated to my blanket in silence. Not that I said much at all anyway. The occasional ‘drop dead’, ‘piss off’, and ‘fuck you’ to deserving parties just to remind them I wasn’t completely broken.

Between surreptitiously watching the trio and shovelling food in my mouth I reached down to grab the hot tea. Bloody hot! With a little yelp I jerked and knocked the damn thing over. Shit. Oh well, I’d just have to drink water. Been there, done that, so no hardship.

With the discussion still raging I returned my bowl and cup to the wash pot for Sook to clean. I’d learned his real name was Jeffen but Sook suited him so much better. The other brats were Dek and Jak, brothers or something. Still, Snivel and Sulk summed them up just as well. They looked after the horses with Bast—(short for bastard I’m sure)—and the day-to-day chores. Vanik scouted the trail; Asera reigned as the still bloody pristine princess while Madden scowled around us all. He was the ‘go man’, or rather the ‘get man’. ‘Get up’, ‘get moving’, ‘get down’, ‘get, get, get’. That’s Madden. Greyed, grizzled, and grim. Fuck, I’m alliterate today. Probably from the lack of good air to the brain. If we went any higher to those mountains no doubt I’d completely run out of air and die. Things were just looking better and bloody better. Resigned, I leant back and dozed. Madden would be by with his boot soon enough once they settled their argument.

It was the silence that woke me. Utter, absolute silence. No snarking boys, no clomping ox, no growling Madden, no snorting horses, no birds chirping, leaves rustling. Nothing.

The only thing I could hear was my heart starting to pound harder. Some weird shit was going on and I was in it. Trying to be silent—yeah, plenty of that going round—I turned my head. Everything was there but as if frozen. Even the bloody fire. I couldn’t see anything or anyone who shouldn’t be here. Fucking magic. Had to be. I crawled on my knees over to where Madden crouched near the fire and looked into his eyes. Blank. No one home. Shit! I gave him a small pinch and then a harder one. Nothing! All of them. Trying with no success to rouse them I decided to make a run for it. No way I wanted to be around when whoever did this got here. Grabbing my rucksack I started shoving in my blanket, some food, Vanik’s foot-long knife (someone had mine), and whatever else I could think of I might need.

Just as I was giving the place the last glance over I saw Asera’s hand twitch. Fuck! Run or check it out? A quick look, that’s all, then I’m gone! Maybe I’d imagined it. Yeah, time to go. A tear ran down her bloody cheek and the fingers twitched again. Bloody surreal. Like watching a statue leaking. I put my hand around her fingers and jumped about a frigging foot when her hand clenched around mine and wouldn’t let go. I tried prising the fingers back but short of cutting them off I was stuck. Good thought. Cut them off.

Unsheathing Vanik’s knife I slid the blade between our hands and prepared to hack my way to freedom. Blood ran between us where I was taking off my own skin as well in haste. Shit, shit, shit. I dug the point in a little deeper for leverage when she suddenly let go of me and stood up from her stool.

I landed flat on my arse and cursed. I was definitely getting out of here now before anything else freaky happened. Scrabbling backwards as fast as I could out of reach, weird shit just kept coming.

She started bloody glowing and her blonde hair rising around her like the sun. No way, no fucking way! Grabbing my gear I bolted. I so did not want to be here or anywhere near here as soon as possible. Running flat out, my breath rasping in my lungs, I dodged or jumped everything in front of me, slashing madly with the knife I still gripped like death.

I was airborne, halfway through a jump, when the world crashed into me from behind and smashed me into oblivion.

CHAPTER 3

M y head was going to explode. My stomach did first though all that came up was green strings of bile and probably my toenails.

A chorus of ‘she’s awake’. I’m surrounded by bloody geniuses. Gods, if this was awake I think I’d rather be dead. My eyeballs were about to pop; there was a sewer in my mouth, and someone had taken the razor blades that usually plagued my arse and put them in my head. Squinting, I realised I’d finally made it to tied across the bloody horse. No wonder the top of my skull was working its way off. Another bout of heaving and I was out again.

This time it was my bladder that woke me. It really wanted to go. Trying to lift my head brought a strangled groan to my lips and bloody Vanik to my side. I was on the ground at least and not moving—tell my churning guts that! The change of my face from white to green must have given him a clue because the bastard heaved me up and to the side to spew. Or tried to. Nothing was coming up though my guts were still insisting something wanted out. A cool, wet cloth wiped across my face elicited another kind of groan. Sweet relief.

‘Finished, little bird?’

If I tried to nod my bloody head would fall off so did the next best thing and croaked for him to fuck off.

‘Now, now, don’t be like that. Sip this water and spit. Good girl. Again. Now, small swallows. Enough. We don’t want to throw up again, do we?’

We? Who was doing the throwing up here? Not fucking ‘we’, that’s for sure! The cloth returned and another sigh of bliss escaped to be followed by a pulse from my bladder reminding me of its need. Shit. Shit, shit, shit. Tears leaked unbidden from under my closed lids.

‘Shh, shh, little bird. The worst is over, relax now.’

I was draped limply over his arm and as much as I hated to ask for his help, my body was becoming insistent.

‘Pee. I’ve got to pee.’ A sob of humiliation oozed out with more tears.

‘Shhh … hold on, hold on,’ he crooned. I felt myself gently lifted into his arms and him walking with my head pressed against his chest … every step an echo of his heartbeat.

With a slow rearrangement of his arms he lowered my legs and clasping my back to his chest, leant over, forcing my knees to bend. When he was satisfied I was positioned just so, he murmured softly into my ear.

‘Come on, little bird, come on. You’re doing fine. Let nature take its course, and we’ll have you back in bed.’

As much as I didn’t want to relieve myself in front of him, I didn’t have a bloody choice. My bladder took over and emptied itself. I nearly passed out again from the relief until I realised I didn’t have any bloody pants on! My burgeoning struggles froze as he straightened and the cold cloth was placed between my legs right you know where! Shock held me immobile for a moment until he moved his bloody hand slowly back and forth. My weak struggles only served to amuse him.

‘Waking up, are we? Enough fun for now, it’s back to bed for you.’

Fun! Fun! I’d give him bloody fun. If I wasn’t as bloody weak as a newborn kitten I would have hit him, but my arms wouldn’t obey me as I dangled in front of him. I closed my eyes as tears of humiliation and anger seeped out. He scooped me back up and returned me to the bed, arranging my limbs and the covers with the gentleness and care of a concerned lover. I vaguely thought he can’t be all bad until I felt him lick the tears off my cheeks. Eww. I dimly heard Asera’s soft voice asking how I was but I didn’t care. I wanted it all to go away, far, far, away and felt myself sinking beyond them all.

When I opened my eyes next it was still dark; my head was down to a dull throb, and my throat felt raw and dry. Guess I had spewed out all my spit. After several minutes some moisture came back, and I just lay there staring at the dark canopy above thinking maybe all this was someone else’s nightmare. The intrusion of Vanik’s ugly mug, smirk and all, made me sure it wasn’t. I couldn’t hear him so maybe it was a dream. A bad dream. I just stared at him without blinking when he didn’t move again, then closed my eyes.

‘Come, little bird, I know you’re awake and probably ready to eat something.’

At the mention of food, my gut clenched around a growl, not to expel, but ready for something to be in it. I turned away in denial.

‘Your body tells me differently and many other stories. You’ve not been treated very well, have you? You can tell me about it when we have some time alone.’

His long finger traced over the scars hidden beneath the blanket sending chills along my spine. With a feral screech this time my arms worked better and I managed to push his hand off me.

‘That’s my girl. I missed your fire to warm my heart.’

‘You don’t have a bloody heart, and keep your bloody hands off me and your bloody tongue, you fucking pervert!’

Gods! I was too exhausted to even cry anymore. The smell of sweet tea had me opening my eyes again to see Asera kneeling by my side. I’d given up expecting to hear them move. The sight of the bandage around her hand brought it all crashing back into my head. Trying to scrabble backwards and away using my elbows and heels I spat furiously.

‘What the hell are you people? Bloody magicians! I saw you use bloody magic and that spell on the camp. That was magic too. Someone you pissed off no doubt and hiding from. Let me go. Just leave me or kill me, I don’t fucking care anymore. Just get away from me!’

My head hitting the tree behind ended my tirade on a grunt of pain and stars.

‘Peace, Sister, we have much to talk about. I will place the tea here and return shortly and explain. Come, Vanik, leave her be for the moment. She cannot go far.’

While my head cleared of stars it pounded harder. I wanted to move—to crawl away if I had to—and keep going but my lousy limbs had given up again. Despair rolled over me. Gods, kill me now. Let me die, let me die, let me die …

The litany went on until the scent of the sweet tea intruded and my stomach growled louder reminding me it wanted something—anything—in it. I listed all the things they could have dosed the drink with—drugs, poison, spit … But it wasn’t listening, and my arm decided what the hell and reached for it anyway. With shaking hands I managed to bring it to my lips, slopping some when I went from cautious sips to gulps. I considered the warm trickle dripping from my chin worth the contented purring of my stomach.

Closing my eyes I waited for the inevitable return of my captors. I was a prisoner to fucking magic users—again! My self-pity party was interrupted by the eventual awareness I was no longer alone. I didn’t bother opening my eyes and just waited for whatever came next.

The soft cloth wiping my chin and throat didn’t get a response from me. I was past fighting. Get on with it. I hadn’t realised the blanket had been shoved down from my frantic scrambling until it was pulled back up to cover me again.

Snapping my eyes open wide I saw Bast grinning over Vanik’s head and glared daggers at him.

‘Get a good look, arsehole?’

I grabbed the edges of the blanket from Vanik’s fingers and held it tight against me while I wriggled to sit upright against the bloody tree. The cold ground against my bare arse as I moved off the groundsheet pulled a startled squeak out of me and a soft chuckle from the sicko at my side, but I wasn’t moving back towards him whatever shit stuck